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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14D-9
(RULE 14d-101)
SOLICITATION/RECOMMENDATION STATEMENT UNDER SECTION 14(d)(4)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
CDnow, Inc.
(Name of Subject Company)
CDnow, Inc.
(Name of Person(s) Filing Statement)
common stock, no par value
(Title of Class of Securities)
125086
(CUSIP Number of Class of Securities)
David A. Capozzi
Vice President and General Counsel
1005 Virginia Drive
Ft. Washington, PA 19034
215-619-9900
(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person Authorized to Receive
Notices and Communications on Behalf of the Person(s) Filing Statement)
|X| Check the box if the filing relates solely to preliminary communications
made before the Commencement of a tender offer.
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BERTELSMANN TO ACQUIRE LEADING ONLINE MUSIC DESTINATION CDNOW
Strengthens Bertelsmann's Position as
Global e-Content, Community and Commerce Leader
Marks Bertelsmann e-Commerce Group's Entry Into
Global Online Music Efforts
Gutersloh, Germany and Fort Washington, PA - (July 20, 2000) - Bertelsmann AG,
the world's most international media company, and CDNOW, Inc. (Nasdaq:CDNW), the
leading online music destination, today announced a definitive merger agreement
under which Bertelsmann will acquire CDNOW in an all-cash tender offer for $3.00
per share, or approximately $117 million.
CDNOW will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bertelsmann e-Commerce Group
(BeCG), which was established earlier this year, to drive Bertelsmann's global
e-content, community and commerce business. The group's objective is to build
the leading global community and commerce network across all technologies and
platforms while providing an unmatched consumer experience around all forms of
media and entertainment.
CDNOW will continue to operate under the CDNOW brand once the transaction
closes. It will also become Bertelsmann's primary engine for all music commerce
across online, mobile and broadband platforms and evolving technologies such as
digital downloading and streaming. CDNOW will be integrated as the music
distribution platform into all Bertelsmann assets. In addition, CDNOW will work
with GetMusic, an online music joint venture between Bertelsmann's BMG
Entertainment and Universal Music Group, to feature GetMusic's content.
Klaus Eierhoff, the Bertelsmann Board member responsible for multimedia
businesses, said: "With this transaction, we are taking another step in our
strategy of establishing Bertelsmann as the world's leading e-content, community
and commerce company. We're happy to bring CDNOW, one of the great online music
brands, into the Bertelsmann family. With its strength in traditional e-commerce
and music content as well as leading technologies such as digital downloading
and custom compilations, CDNOW is a pioneer in its field and an excellent fit
with our online and offline music assets."
Andreas Schmidt, President and CEO of Bertelsmann e-Commerce Group, said: "We
believe strongly that e-content, community and commerce will continue to grow
rapidly as an integral part of everyday life, benefiting consumers around the
world through enhanced convenience, wider selection, and competitive pricing, as
demonstrated through our recent strategic alliances with AOL and Terra Lycos.
This is particularly true with media and related entertainment products--areas
that are not only part of Bertelsmann's core business, but that are leading the
digital content, community and commerce revolution throughout the world. As part
of the Bertelsmann family of digital businesses, we are confident that CDNOW
will be an important part of this revolution."
Jason Olim, CDNOW President, CEO and co-founder, said, "Our agreement with
Bertelsmann represents a successful conclusion to our extensive search for a
merger partner. We believe our combination with Bertelsmann is the best outcome
for our shareholders, employees and customers. CDNOW has grown from a small
startup to a leading online music brand. This transaction allows CDNOW to
fulfill its vision of providing music fans with the ultimate music experience by
being part of the Bertelsmann family. CDNOW will continue to provide music fans
with a digital connection to the world of music through music products,
information, entertainment and community."
CDNOW is one of the most well-known and regularly visited music destinations
with 4 million customers and an average daily audience of over 700,000 people.
CDNOW offers its users access to over 500,000 music and entertainment related
products and 650,000 high-quality stereo sound samples, as well as daily news,
features, guides to music genres, and exclusive interviews and reviews from the
company's award-winning editorial staff.
With 25 million unique visitors per month, Bertelsmann is the global Internet
leader among all media companies. The CDNOW acquisition follows a series of
alliances and other initiatives that Bertelsmann has undertaken to expand its
e-content, community and commerce capabilities. Earlier this year, Bertelsmann
announced a strategic global alliance with America Online to expand the
distribution of Bertelsmann's leading media content and e-commerce properties
over AOL's interactive brands worldwide. On May 17, Bertelsmann announced a
broad five-year strategic partnership with the newly formed Terra Lycos (formed
from the merger of Terra Networks SA and Lycos, Inc.), under which Bertelsmann
is guaranteed a preferred premier partner position for the distribution of its
diversified media content and e-commerce offerings. With these strategic
alliances, Bertelsmann's e-Commerce Group now has direct access to some 240
million customers.
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Transaction Structure and Terms
Under the agreement, Bertelsmann will commence a tender offer for all CDNOW
common stock for $3.00 per share in cash. Following the completion of the tender
offer, Bertelsmann intends to consummate a second-step merger in which all
remaining CDNOW shareholders will receive the same cash price paid in the tender
offer. The transaction is expected to close during the fall of 2000.
The board of directors of CDNOW has unanimously approved the merger agreement
and intends to recommend to the CDNOW shareholders that they tender their shares
into the proposed offer from Bertelsmann. Jason Olim and Matthew Olim,
co-founders of CDNOW, have agreed to tender their approximately 5.8 million
shares (approximately 17% of the shares outstanding) into the offer.
In addition, Bertelsmann will advance to CDNOW financing of approximately $42
million to pay off existing loans and to fund CDNOW's ongoing operations until
the close of the transaction.
CDNOW will continue to be headquartered in Fort Washington. The management team
is expected to remain with the company. Jason Olim will report to Mr. Schmidt.
The tender offer is subject to customary closing conditions, including the
tender of a majority of CDNOW's outstanding common stock on a fully diluted
basis and obtaining necessary regulatory approvals.
Lazard acted as financial advisor to Bertelsmann. Davis Polk & Wardwell acted as
legal counsel to Bertelsmann. Allen & Company Incorporated acted as CDNOW's
principal financial advisor and provided a fairness opinion. Deutsche Bank
Alex.Brown also acted as a financial advisor to CDNOW. Morgan, Lewis & Bockius
LLP acted as legal counsel to CDNOW.
CDNOW, Inc., is the leading online music destination that offers the most
comprehensive, personalized connection to the world of music. CDNOW's offerings
consist of more than 500,000 music and entertainment-related items, including
CDs, music downloads, cassettes, vinyl albums and Custom CDs, as well as music
samples and intelligent album recommendations. CDNOW Media, the Company's
interactive division, develops CDNOW's interactive content, including
allstar(TM) News, artist interviews and reviews, and the Company's webcasting
and entertainment initiatives. CDNOW's Video Shop includes an immense selection
of movies in VHS, DVD and Laserdisc. Visitors can search the Video Shop by
Advance Orders, New Releases, Best Sellers and more. CDNOW movie reviews, as
well as actor/actress information, film ratings, reviews, and run times are
available from AEC's All-Movie Guide(R).
Bertelsmann AG is one of the world's leading media, e-commerce and interactive
content companies, with over 75,000 employees in more than 54 countries.
Bertelsmann's business units include publishing firms, music and film companies,
multimedia services, online commerce companies, daily newspapers, consumer
magazines, radio and television stations, book clubs, trade journals, and other
service companies that provide information, education and entertainment to a
worldwide audience. To advance its global e-commerce objectives, Bertelsmann has
established worldwide strategic alliances with AOL and the newly formed Terra
Lycos to distribute Bertelsmann's books, music, television, film and other media
content.
This announcement is not an offer to purchase shares of CDNOW. At the time the
offer is commenced, Bertelsmann will file a tender offer statement and CDNOW
will file a solicitation/recommendation statement with U.S. Securities and
Exchange Commission. These documents will contain important information which
should be read carefully before any decision is made with respect to the offer.
The offer to purchase and other offer documents included in the tender offer
statement, as well as the solicitation/recommendation statement, will be made
available to all shareholders of CDNOW at no expense to them. These and any
other documents filed with the Commission will also be available for free at the
Commission's website at www.sec.gov.
Note to Editors: Today's news release, along with other news about Bertelsmann
and CDNOW, is available on the Internet at http://www.bertelsmann.com and
http://www.cdnow.com/investors.
Contacts for BeCG: Contacts for CDNOW:
Media: Media:
Name: Andy Brimmer / Joele Frank Name: Marlo Zoda
Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher Phone: (215) 619-9432
Phone: (212) 355-4449 [email protected]
Investors:
Name: Deborah Vondran
Phone: (215) 619-9366
[email protected]
